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Swinging Into History

Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball's First Woman Player

Author Karen L. Swanson
Illustrated by Laura Freeman
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek
11.36"W x 9.28"H x 0.42"D   | 18 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Aug 06, 2024 | 40 Pages | 9781635928136
Age 7-10 years | Grades 2-5
Reading Level: Lexile 770L | Fountas & Pinnell S
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2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title
2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner

Young readers will root for Toni “Tomboy” Stone, the first woman (and the first Black woman) to break into professional baseball—taking over Hank Aaron’s roster spot—in this nonfiction picture book biography.

Nothing could stop Toni “Tomboy” Stone from playing baseball—not even her parents. The only girl on a church team, she persevered as insults were hurled her way from the boy players. She caught the attention of former major leaguer Gabby Street, who gave her a chance at his summer baseball school. With Coach Street’s training—and the cleats he gifted her—Toni managed to earn a spot in the minor leagues. Though teams were hesitant to sign a woman, she pitched the idea that fans would pay to see a woman play—and it worked! But Toni’s persistence and optimism were not enough to win over the Jim Crow South crowds nor her male teammates. Coaches put her in the starting lineup and then benched her early, every game, no matter her results. But her talent got noticed and she was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first woman to break into the pros. “Toni arrives,” shouted newspaper headlines, and she delivered! In her first professional game she ripped a single and drove in two runs, and left the crowd chanting “TONI! TONI! TONI!”
2025 Kansas NEA Reading Circle List

"Debut author Karen L. Swanson teams up with the illustrator Laura Freeman to follow Stone from her local park to the Negro leagues... ‘Swinging Into History’... bring(s) attention to (Toni Stone’s) extraordinary contributions to the game...” —The New York Times Book Review

"Marcenia 'Tomboy' Stone lived, loved, and breathed baseball...Her big break came when she was selected to replace Hank Aaron on the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro League—the first woman to play professional baseball. In an author’s note, baseball enthusiast Swanson expands on the racism and gender discrimination Stone faced. Stone’s words appear on banners across the bold, energetic illustrations by Freeman...as well as those from the press...all of which round out this upbeat tribute. A welcome addition to the annals of women’s sports." —Kirkus Reviews

"The narrative is appealing; well-chosen quotes from Stone are presented on certain pages alongside Freeman’s engaging digital illustrations. From childhood dream to hard-won achievements, Stone’s story unfolds as a picturebook with a happy ending. In the extensive back matter, Swanson makes clear how difficult and demoralizing Stone’s path really was. An inspirational biography for baseball fans." —Booklist
Karen L. Swanson is the author of an award-winning blog and two health cookbooks. An avid athlete with decades of experience on and at baseball fields, she is inspired by women who break barriers in the medical, business, and sports worlds. Karen worked in product marketing at Pfizer and Procter & Gamble before becoming a writer, and she holds an MBA from Harvard University. Visit karenlswanson.com. View titles by Karen L. Swanson
Laura Freeman is the illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, which won the Coretta Scott Illustrator Honor and the NAACP Image Award, among other awards. She is also known for her work on the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal. Visit lfreemanart.com. View titles by Laura Freeman

Educator Guide for Swinging Into History

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Read More

About

2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title
2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner

Young readers will root for Toni “Tomboy” Stone, the first woman (and the first Black woman) to break into professional baseball—taking over Hank Aaron’s roster spot—in this nonfiction picture book biography.

Nothing could stop Toni “Tomboy” Stone from playing baseball—not even her parents. The only girl on a church team, she persevered as insults were hurled her way from the boy players. She caught the attention of former major leaguer Gabby Street, who gave her a chance at his summer baseball school. With Coach Street’s training—and the cleats he gifted her—Toni managed to earn a spot in the minor leagues. Though teams were hesitant to sign a woman, she pitched the idea that fans would pay to see a woman play—and it worked! But Toni’s persistence and optimism were not enough to win over the Jim Crow South crowds nor her male teammates. Coaches put her in the starting lineup and then benched her early, every game, no matter her results. But her talent got noticed and she was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first woman to break into the pros. “Toni arrives,” shouted newspaper headlines, and she delivered! In her first professional game she ripped a single and drove in two runs, and left the crowd chanting “TONI! TONI! TONI!”

Praise

2025 Kansas NEA Reading Circle List

"Debut author Karen L. Swanson teams up with the illustrator Laura Freeman to follow Stone from her local park to the Negro leagues... ‘Swinging Into History’... bring(s) attention to (Toni Stone’s) extraordinary contributions to the game...” —The New York Times Book Review

"Marcenia 'Tomboy' Stone lived, loved, and breathed baseball...Her big break came when she was selected to replace Hank Aaron on the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro League—the first woman to play professional baseball. In an author’s note, baseball enthusiast Swanson expands on the racism and gender discrimination Stone faced. Stone’s words appear on banners across the bold, energetic illustrations by Freeman...as well as those from the press...all of which round out this upbeat tribute. A welcome addition to the annals of women’s sports." —Kirkus Reviews

"The narrative is appealing; well-chosen quotes from Stone are presented on certain pages alongside Freeman’s engaging digital illustrations. From childhood dream to hard-won achievements, Stone’s story unfolds as a picturebook with a happy ending. In the extensive back matter, Swanson makes clear how difficult and demoralizing Stone’s path really was. An inspirational biography for baseball fans." —Booklist

Author

Karen L. Swanson is the author of an award-winning blog and two health cookbooks. An avid athlete with decades of experience on and at baseball fields, she is inspired by women who break barriers in the medical, business, and sports worlds. Karen worked in product marketing at Pfizer and Procter & Gamble before becoming a writer, and she holds an MBA from Harvard University. Visit karenlswanson.com. View titles by Karen L. Swanson
Laura Freeman is the illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, which won the Coretta Scott Illustrator Honor and the NAACP Image Award, among other awards. She is also known for her work on the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal. Visit lfreemanart.com. View titles by Laura Freeman

Additional Materials

Educator Guide for Swinging Into History

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Read More

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